OFFENSE
Quarterback Russell Wilson had to make something out of a whole lotta nothing in this one. The Seahawks had no running game to speak of beyond Wilson’s scrambles. (The first game without Marshawn Lynch at running back did not ease any concerns about life after Lynch.) And Wilson found himself under constant pressure whenever he dropped back to pass.
Grade: D+
DEFENSE
The defense won this one for Seattle. Sure, Detroit’s run game is anemic, but the Seahawks still limited the Lions to 53 yards on the ground. Then when Detroit finally moved the ball late in the game, Kam Chancellor (above) came up with the defensive play that may have saved Seattle’s season. Seattle’s defense hasn’t given up a touchdown in two weeks.
Grade: A-
SPECIAL TEAMS
Seattle wasn’t able to get its return game going the way it had in its first three games. Tyler Lockett was never able to wriggle free, and he had a punt muff that led to a turnover. But Steven Hauschka continued to be money from long distance, dialing in a pair of 50-plus-yard field goals that ended up being the difference in the game.
Grade: B-
COACHING
Seattle was able to make halftime adjustments in each of its first three games in order to get the offense moving in the second half. However, this time the Seahawks’ offense regressed after halftime. But how much of that was because Seattle had to switch to conservative play calling in order to keep Wilson from getting his head taken off?
Grade: C-
OVERALL
Seattle had to win this game. Falling into a 1-3 hole, while not a complete death sentence, would have made making the playoffs a Herculean task, so in that sense it was mission accomplished. However, the Seahawks came within a hair of losing at home to a winless team, and the concerns on the offensive line have to be reaching the crisis level.
Grade: C
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